LOCAL NEWS

Friends, family identify men killed in civilian-owned plane crash at NAS Kingsville

Monica Lopez
Corpus Christi

KINGSVILLE — Two men who died Wednesday in a plane crash at Naval Air Station Kingsville have been identified by family and friends. 

Steve DeWolf, an East Dallas attorney and founder of DeWolf Law, was killed in a civilian plane crash at Naval Air Station-Kingsville on April 25, 2018.

According to an article by the Lakewood East Dallas Advocate, civil lawyer and author Steve DeWolf was flying the T-6 Texan that crashed at about 12:30 p.m. on the base. His wife, Tammy DeWolf, confirmed her husband died in the Wednesday crash, the article states.

The website for his lawfirm, DeWolf Law, states he started his own practice in 2013. 

Missouri Senator Doug Libla took to Facebook to say Charles Skoda was killed in a civilian-owned plane crash in Kingsville on Wednesday.

"(Charles) was widely known and a friend to many in the Missouri State Capitol for several years," his Facebook post states. 

Kevin Clarke, a public affairs officer for the naval air station, said the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. 

More:Two dead after civilian-owned plane crashes at Naval Air Station Kingsville

It caught fire and was put out by naval emergency personnel, Clarke said in a video posted on the naval base's Facebook page. 

The pilot and one passenger had been visiting an employee of the base and had just taken off when the mishap occurred, Clarke said. 

Libla states in his post that Skoda was a former government relations employee of the Noranda Corporation and served as a Navy fighter pilot in his military career.

"My most sincere condolences to his wonderful wife, beautiful children, extended family and close friends. He will be sorely missed," Libla wrote.

Missouri Times publisher and host of "This Week in Missouri Politics" Scott Faughn remembers Skoda as one of the most caring individuals he has ever met.

Charles Skoda (middle) poses for a group photo with long-time friend Scott Faughn (right). Skoda was one of the two passengers who died in the civilian-owned plane crash in Naval Air Station Kingsville Wednesday.

"He was a loyal friend and he left his mark on the world specifically the state of Missouri," he said. 

Officials of the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were on the way to conduct an investigation into the crash, Clarke said in the video.

The two people were taken to a nearby funeral home, he said in the video.

Caller-Times reporter Meagan Falcon contributed to this report.